When a chocolate craving strikes and you need a quick dessert fix, this easy eggless chocolate mug cake recipe comes together in just minutes using a microwave and a handful of pantry staples.
Perfect as a single-serving dessert, it's the ideal recipe for those times when you want something homemade without the effort of baking a whole cake, with a soft, moist end result every time.
Eggless Chocolate Mug Cake
As a baker by profession and a mom, I have always been guilty of making and feeding my family desserts more often than I probably should!
So I had been avoiding baking for a while, but when a sudden chocolate craving hit, I made this mug cake while the kids were at school.
And the best part? It takes hardly 5 minutes, needs no eggs, and is just the right quick fix when you want something sweet—even for those midnight chocolate cravings when your sweet tooth kicks in.
If you love quick single-serving desserts, you might also want to try my Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie as well.
Over the years, I've tried lots of mug cake recipes, and this is one of the easiest versions that consistently turns out soft and moist.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
(Please scroll to the bottom of the post to print the recipe card)
Ingredient Notes:
- Sugar: I recommend caster sugar because the finer crystals dissolve quickly into the cake batter. Regular granulated sugar may not dissolve as well in such a short microwave cooking time.
- Cocoa Powder: For a more intense chocolate flavor, you can increase the cocoa powder to as much as 3 tablespoons. Just keep in mind that it makes the cake much richer and more chocolate-forward.
- Oil: Use a neutral-flavoured oil such as sunflower or vegetable oil or canola oil. It keeps the cake moist without adding any strong flavour.
- Milk: You can use regular dairy milk or almond milk, oat milk or soy milk if you prefer.
- Chocolate chips: These are optional but add little pockets of chocolate throughout the cake and help keep it moist. You can use milk or dark chocolate chips, or simply chop your favourite chocolate into small chunks and fold them into the batter, depending on your personal preference.
Step by Step Instruction
Add the all-purpose flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt to a microwavable mug. Mix well with a fork to combine evenly (image 1).
Add the oil and milk to the mug. Mix until you have a smooth batter with no visible pockets of flour (image 2).
Fold in the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, reserving a few pieces for the top if you like (image 3 and 4).
Place the mug in the microwave and cook on high for 90 seconds. The cake should be risen and cooked through but still soft and moist.
Serve: Enjoy the mug cake as it is, or dust it with icing sugar, or garnish with fresh berries. For a more indulgent treat, top with a scoop of ice cream, drizzle with chocolate sauce or caramel sauce, and finish with some extra chocolate chips.
This easy recipe for microwave mug cake is a keeper for sure.
Best Tips
- Use a wide microwave-safe mug: Choose a coffee mug that holds at least 250–300 ml so the batter has enough room to rise without overflowing.
- The exact microwave time can vary depending on your microwave power, so check the middle of the batter before adding more time. The cake should be risen and cooked through but still soft and moist.
- Add chocolate: Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate not only add extra chocolate flavour but also help keep the cake moist.
- Eat it warm: This mug cake is best enjoyed immediately while warm and soft. It doesn't taste quite as good after sitting for a couple of hours, so make it just before serving.
- Don't prepare the batter ahead: Since this recipe uses baking powder, it's best to mix and microwave the batter immediately rather than letting it sit.
When I'm craving something sweet, this easy chocolate dessert is my go-to single serving chocolate fix.
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Quick Eggless Chocolate Mug Cake in Microwave
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons caster sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons neutral-flavoured oil
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
Instructions
- Add the flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt to a microwave-safe mug. Mix well with a fork.
- Pour in the oil and milk. Mix until you have a smooth cake batter with no pockets of dry flour.
- Fold in the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate. Reserve a few pieces to sprinkle on top, if desired.
- Microwave on high for 90 seconds. The cake should be risen and cooked through while remaining soft and moist.
- Enjoy warm as it is, or dust with icing sugar. For a more indulgent dessert, top with ice cream, chocolate sauce and extra chocolate chips.
Notes
- Cocoa powder: This recipe uses 2 tablespoons for a balanced chocolate flavour. You can increase it to 3 tablespoons for a more intense chocolate cake, but it will be considerably richer.
- Caster sugar: Caster sugar works best because its fine crystals dissolve quickly during the short cooking time. Milk: Dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk or soy milk can be used.
- Oil: Use a neutral oil such as sunflower, vegetable or canola oil. Coconut oil can also be used, although it may add a subtle coconut flavour.
- Chocolate: Chocolate chips are optional, but they add pockets of melted chocolate and help keep the cake moist. Chopped milk or dark chocolate works just as well.
- Mug size: Use a wide microwave-safe mug with a capacity of at least 250–300 ml to give the cake enough room to rise.
- Microwave: Cooking time can vary depending on your microwave power. Start with 90 seconds and add 10–15 seconds only if needed. Avoid overcooking, as this can make the cake dry or rubbery.
- Best served warm: This mug cake is best eaten immediately while warm and soft. The texture isn't quite as good after sitting for a couple of hours.
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